Key terms · the divine name (YHWH)
Malachi
יהוה Hebrew · Strong’s H3068
Every sentence 46 uses
Each sentence in Balanced English, with the word marked. The verse link opens it in the reader.
An oracle: the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.
I have loved you, says the LORD. Yet you ask, “In what way have you loved us?” Was Esau not Jacob’s brother? declares the LORD. Even so, I loved Jacob,
Edom may say, “We have been crushed, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But the LORD of Armies says this: They may build, but I will tear down. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.
You will see it with your own eyes, and you will say, “Great is the LORD, even beyond the borders of Israel!”
A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due to me? If I am a master, where is the respect due to me? says the LORD of Armies to you priests who despise my name. Yet you ask, “In what way have we despised your name?”
You offer defiled food on my altar. Yet you ask, “In what way have we defiled you?” By saying, “The table of the LORD may be despised.”
When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you offer animals that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Just try offering such a thing to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or receive you kindly? says the LORD of Armies.
So now, plead with God to be gracious to us! With such offerings from your hands, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of Armies.
If only one of you would close the temple doors and stop you from lighting useless fires on my altar! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of Armies, and I will not accept an offering from your hands.
From where the sun rises to where it sets, my name is great among the nations. In every place incense is offered to my name, and pure offerings, because my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of Armies.
You say, “What a burden this is!” and you sniff at it in contempt, says the LORD of Armies. You bring animals that were stolen, or lame or sick, and these you bring as your offering! Should I accept that from your hands? says the LORD.
Cursed is the cheat who has a sound male in their flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices to the Lord an animal with a blemish! I am a great King, says the LORD of Armies, and my name is feared among the nations.
If you will not listen, and if you will not resolve to give glory to my name, says the LORD of Armies, I will send the curse on you and turn your blessings into curses. In fact, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken this to heart.
Then you will know that I have sent you this command so that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of Armies.
For a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge, and people should look to him for instruction, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Armies.
But you have turned from the way and caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have ruined the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of Armies.
Judah has been unfaithful, and a detestable practice has been carried out in Israel and in Jerusalem. Judah has profaned what is holy to the LORD, what he loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob every man who does this, whoever he may be, even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Armies.
And here is another thing you do: you flood the LORD’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning, because he no longer looks on your offerings or accepts them gladly from your hands.
Yet you ask, “Why?” Because the LORD was a witness between you and the wife you married in your youth. You have broken faith with her, though she is your partner and your wife by covenant.
For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, and I hate it when a man covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of Armies. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be unfaithful.
You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you ask, “In what way have we wearied him?” When you say, “All who do evil are good in the LORD’s sight, and he is pleased with them,” or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
See, I am sending my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, is coming, says the LORD of Armies.
He will sit like one who refines and purifies silver; he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they will belong to the LORD and bring offerings in righteousness.
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD, as it was in days gone by, in years long past.
I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers and adulterers and those who swear falsely, against those who cheat hired workers of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans and deny justice to foreigners, and who do not fear me, says the LORD of Armies.
I am the LORD, and I do not change; that is why you, descendants of Jacob, have not been destroyed.
Ever since the days of your ancestors you have strayed from my statutes and failed to keep them. Return to me, and I will turn to you again, says the LORD of Armies. Yet you ask, “In what way shall we return?”
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house. Put me to the test in this, says the LORD of Armies, and see if I do not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out on you a blessing until you have more than enough.
I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, so that it will not destroy the crops of your land, and your vines in the field will not fail to bear fruit, says the LORD of Armies.
Then all the nations will call you blessed, because you will be a delightful land, says the LORD of Armies.
You have said harsh things against me, says the LORD. Yet you ask, “What have we said against you?”
You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What do we gain by keeping his requirements and walking around like mourners before the LORD of Armies?
Then those who feared the LORD talked with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. A book of remembrance was written in his presence about those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
They will be mine, says the LORD of Armies, my special treasure on the day when I act. I will spare them as a father spares the son who serves him.
For see, the day is coming, blazing like a furnace, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming will set them on fire, says the LORD of Armies, and leave them neither root nor branch.
You will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes beneath your feet on the day when I act, says the LORD of Armies.
See, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the day of the LORD comes, that great and terrible day.